Wheel Bearings and Tires

[RodneyCB750K1979]

I need some opinions regarding the need to replace wheel bearings and tires.  The bike has 24,000 miles with no history of repairs. The bearings are slightly difficult to turn with my finger.  I don't have the tools shown in the shop manual. What can I expect a Honda shop to charge replacing the bearings?

The tires appear in good condition. Tread depth is ok with no signs of cracking.  The date codes are 2008 and Nov 2007.  Should I replace the tires?

[750K8]

Honda replaced a brand new bearing in my rear wheel. With the new bearing, I could not turn it with my fingers. I assume they have to be under weight/friction, so I don't think trying to turn it by your hand is a valid test.

It's pretty cheap. Front and rear wheel bearing replacement is probably $20 each, at the most.

I'd replace the tires. You can't go only by tread quality, but by the age.

[shinyribs]

A good wheel bearing won't spin freely in your hand. There will be a fair amount of resistance from the grease. As long as it turns smoothly with no tight spots,sounds or grabbing it's probably OK. When I replace wheel bearings I use a big hammer and an equally big flat blade screwdriver. No special tools required. Well,you need to remove the hub nut/bearing retainer. That tool can be picked up at Harbor Freight (or similar location) for fairly cheap.Usually $20 or less will get you a good adjustable spanner wrench.Piute scored one from Harbor Freight for $4!

If you decide to do it yourself just remember to drill out the factory stake dimples before you try to remove the hearing retainer or you will most likely hurt the threads in the hub.


Here's a few links on the topic

http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/Retainer-tool-Adjustable-pin-wrench-4-bucks-H-F-td4032234.html#a4032363

http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/Adjustable-wrench-turned-spanner-nut-wrench-td4007925.html

[RodneyCB750K1979]

Thanks for the advices. I dropped my wheels off this morning at Honda. They quoted me bearings and seals $30 front and $70 rear. Installation takes 1 hour so figure another $100 for labor.  Once I get the wheels back, I'm going to paint them.

[750K8]

Shops do $50 an hour. $100 an hour is extreme.

I'd be shopping around a lot more if I had to pay $200 to get wheel bearings replaced.

[shinyribs]

Shop labor rates in my area (southwest Virginia)  are $75/hr for bikes. Autos are that or higher.

[KYCB750Kdude]

im in ashland ky and im an auto tech. those rates are the reason i turn a wrench i do the same stuff a "dealership" shop does but my labor rate is 60 an hr. sometimes lower my whole purpose is to keep working folks and families mobile without raping them

[750K8]

Also,

You don't need to buy OEM honda bearings/seals/gaskets. Because you did that, you now just paid $100 in parts. That's unnecessary. There's very high quality third party kits that cost a fraction of that.

[750K8]

I dug up an invoice on my rear bearing replacement from Canyon Honda in Caldwell, ID. I brought them a nice third party bearing kit.

Parts: $20 (supplied)
Labor: $34 @.5 hours.

It costed me about $50 per wheel.

Again, $200 total cost is nuts. You learn once I guess.

[shinyribs]

KYCB750Kdude wrote

im in ashland ky and im an auto tech. those rates are the reason i turn a wrench i do the same stuff a "dealership" shop does but my labor rate is 60 an hr. sometimes lower my whole purpose is to keep working folks and families mobile without raping them

Good on you dude!